Review : Popcorn 4

MacNN Rating:

Price: $49.95 US; Upgrade $25

The Good

Web video capture.
DVD track editing.
Flash video export.

The Bad

No de-interlace option.
Must watch whole web video before you can convert it.

I'm a video geek and have hundreds of video clips on my hard drives. I often grab more from a variety of sources and convert them for use in different projects or for playback on my iPhone, Apple TV or Xbox 360. Handbrake and QuickTime Pro are my editing and conversion tools of choice, but I'm always on the lookout for something new. Roxio's newest version of Popcorn might be just the thing I've waited for to combine all the video tools I need into one application.

New Features

You use Popcorn, which originally came out in 2005, to copy or compress non-commercial DVDs, and to convert video clips to file formats used by portable media players. Popcorn 4 adds web video capture, basic video editing, and more conversion options to make your creations playable on even more portable devices. MacNN has reviewed earlier versions of Popcorn, as noted at the bottom of this review, so I'll just touch on what is new in version 4.

The interface is the first sign of change in the new Popcorn. You always know what mode you're in with a Copy tab on the left and a Convert tab on the right. The big red burn and export button remains on bottom right, but the disk capacity meter that used to arc around it now runs along the bottom of the window. This new, longer meter gives you a better idea of how much room you have left in your project.

Popcorn 4 Window

You can pull individual clips or pieces of clips and audio from your non-commercial DVDs. From the Media Browser window just navigate to your DVD, choose any of the tracks and click the plus button. Your clip opens in its own window and gives you sliders to choose only the portion of the clip you want to save. You can add the clips to a new project and burn a compilation DVD or you can export the files to any of the file formats that Popcorn generates.

DVD Clips - Screen shot by Roxio

New Video Capture and Download

Another useful Popcorn addition is the ability to download any video that is playing in your Internet browser's window. You simply open Popcorn's Media Browser, choose Web Video, and any videos that are loaded into your Internet browser window appear. Double-click to add it to your video files project. I went to Google's video page, YouTube, and Vimeo and Popcorn downloaded all the videos flawlessly. I tested this using Safari 4.0.3 and Firefox 3.5.4 and both worked perfectly.

Web Video Extraction - Media Browser

The new Popcorn can also detect and import video from the new generation of AVCHD and AVCHD Lite camcorders. It works with your Tivo to transfer, convert, and burn your TV shows to DVD or export for use on your portable devices. Popcorn also works with Elgato's EyeTV line of TV tuner devices. I currently use the EyeTV 250 Plus and Popcorn works seamlessly with the EyeTV software to preview, import, and convert the test recordings I made.

Video Preview

Much improved in Popcorn 4 is the video preview feature. To keep you from wasting time on a conversion that doesn't look as good as you'd like, you can preview exactly how your video will look. You can even save your preview clips so you can compare them side-by-side before you decide which settings to use. This feature alone will save you hours of conversion trial and error.

You also have more options when you're ready to export your video. In addition to Apple TV, iPhone/iPod, PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Xbox 360, and BlackBerry, Popcorn can export files for playback on Nintendo Wii and Palm Pre. You can also upload your videos directly to your YouTube account or export in Adobe's Flash Video format.

Available Codecs

When you choose the YouTube option, you're prompted for your account login and password and given the opportunity to title, categorize, and tag your video. I tested a 30 second video clip and it exported smoothly and uploaded to YouTube without a hitch.

There are two Flash Video options, the first exports your video as a stand-alone Flash file to be played in any application that can play Adobe Flash video. The Flash Video with Player option exports your video file along with everything needed to use it on a web site. It even exports an HTML template with the video embedded with full Flash controls for playback and volume. In the past, I have used Apple's QuickTime Pro to convert video to Flash for use on my web site but I always had to piece together the necessary playback software, HTML code, and JavaScript code from scratch. Popcorn has taken the hassle out of all that with one very smooth step. Bravo!

Flash Export and Files

If you like to play around with video but want to keep things simple, you should take Popcorn 4 for a test drive. It has the fit and finish I've come to expect from Roxio and has the video horsepower under its hood to handle most editing and conversion jobs you might encounter. The CPU friendly Popcorn lets you pause and resume conversion too. It is easy for me to recommend Popcorn and give it an almost perfect rating.

Popcorn runs on any Mac with an Intel processor, QuickTime 7, and Macintosh OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or 10.6 (Snow Leopard). It costs $49.99 for first time buyers and $29.99 for owners of previous versions of Popcorn.

Related Reviews on MacNN:

Now AAPL Stock: 157.86 ( -3.09 )

Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj

Share

Developer414d

Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket

The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]

Share

414d

Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera

Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94

Share

Industry414d

Apple employees testing wheelchair features

New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa

Share

Troubleshooting414d

SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards

SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If

Share

Upgrades/storage414d

Apple's third-quarter results due July 26

Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm

Share

Investor415d

Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users

Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE